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The Christmas Shopping Miracle

With crunch time officially upon us, all the last minute details need to be done. The last few gifts need to be purchases, grocery shopping for a wonderful Christmas dinner… to say this time of year can be super stressful all depends on how you need to look at.

Chocolate Raspberry cheesecake made with love.

While standing in the longest line of all time at the LCBO, I was getting the last things that I needed for the next few days, some gifts of wine for my Dad, sister and brother whom will be having a Christmas dinner with today. I was silently reflecting on the last 45 minutes of my life, and all the awesomeness I was able to take it around me as I finished up my shopping. Let’s start at the beginning shall we?

I headed outside at 9:45am to shovel the end of the driveway. You know that heavy, sluggy dirty wet snow that the snow plows comes and deposits at the end of your driveway right after you have finished shovelling, right? And while I do drive a Jeep, leaving too much of that stuff lying around well makes it impossible for lesser vehicles. I have always looked at shovelling snow as a perfect upper body, and back workout. It took at 7 minutes to clear my plug and of course my neighbours plug as I always have the joined driveway dilemma.

Then it was off to Zehr’s to stock up on some tasty treats and pickup what was needed for the lovely turkey dinner that I will be making for the family tomorrow night. It looked like everyone else in Barrie had the same idea, get it done early Saturday morning and out of the way. I parked at the back of the lot so it would allow me to ride the shopping cart all the way down towards to store. I absolutely love the looks I get from everyone as I go whizzing by them riding the back of the cart. It is so much fun, and the next time you go shopping I suggest you give it a try. I had a vague recollection of what I needed and proceed to zip through in and around all the other shoppers with great speed quickly filling my cart with what was needed.

As I headed to the checkout line my brain analyze which line was the quickest, I channeled my inner Apu and picked the line with all the single Dads, all cash, no chit chat and was out in no time. While standing in line I listened to the other conversations that were going on around me, filled with stress, stories of fighting over parking, etc… I looked around the store and saw nothing but frowns and frustration on far too many faces. In fact I think I may have been the only one smiling.

I told the grocery bagger to have a little break and packed up my own items into my reusable bags, wished them both a Merry Christmas and then rode my cart at break neck speed across the parking lot back to my Jeep. I believe I was even singing Christmas carols as I zoomed along.

Next was the LCBO and wouldn’t you know it, not a parking spot to be found. That is never a problem anymore as if there are no spots, you simply make one for yourself. This time on top of a pile of snow and the curb.

Cannot find a parking space, you make your own!

I quickly grabbed what I needed and got into a line that wound back through the entire store, as luck was with me this day the line moved quickly and then another cashier opened up and I was out of there in under five minutes. While standing in the line, I overheard the cashier ask a male customer if he had finished shopping yet, and he replied with the cliche answer of… “I am guy, it not Christmas eve at 5pm yet. I’ve still got plenty of time.” At the same time I was thinking that I was one checkout away from being finished for the season. I literally ran out to my Jeep laughing out loud as I was able to mission the store so quickly.

When I got home I had been able to shovel the end of the driveway, hit both the grocery store and the liquor store and back home in exactly 45 minutes. A quicker mission has not been since in a long while. Last minute shopping, no problem, I got this!